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Is speed enough?

Darrell Henderson details the quality that allows him to be the most explosive running back in the state, South Panola's 6A title win in 2012 and back flips over Ole Miss commit Armani Linton. Literally. (Video by Courtney Cronin/The Clarion-Ledger).

Darrell Henderson sat quietly in the locker at Veterans Memorial Stadium, watching others suit up for the Dandy Dozen photoshoot.

He kept to himself while four-star prospects Leo Lewis and Javon Patterson laughed across the room before shooting their video profiles.

A soft-spoken athlete, Henderson isn't ranked. He's the only Dandy Dozen member in his class who doesn't have an SEC offer.

Instead, Henderson's offer sheet features Southern Miss, Memphis and Middle Tennessee, and those schools see something unique in the 5-foot-9, 185-pound running back.

"He's a kid that can bust a home run every play," South Panola coach Lance Pogue said.

Henderson's speed makes him one of the most explosive running backs in Mississippi.

This season, he's on pace to break South Panola's rushing record of 5,122 yards, set by Kevin Thomas in 1998. After a 2,000-plus yard season as a junior, his speed should carry him to that number.

Henderson turned heads with his sub-4.3-second 40-yard dash performance at a combine in June. His highlight film reflects his speed as he blows through linebackers and then safties.

"I feel like they can't touch me on the field," Henderson said.

That's why losing to Tupelo in the playoffs last season was hard for him to stomach. The year before, Henderson blazed up and down the field at Memorial Stadium, leading South Panola to a 6A state title over Brandon.

"We got ready to come play that game and I told Darrell, 'If you want to be a Dandy Dozen, here's where you make your mark as a sophomore,'" Pogue said. "Early in the game, he had an 80-yard touchdown run... I knew that he had left his mark."

Speed is a common theme among the offensive players named to the Dandy Dozen, such as Murrah's Malik Dear, who will enroll early at Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs can tap into the 5-foot-9, 210-pound athlete's potential and maybe turn him into a slot receiver next year.

But unlike Henderson, Dear was able to land offers from SEC programs.

Murrah speedster Malik Dear discusses his versatility as an athlete, muscle gain this summer, the most difficult part of the recruiting process, what it would mean to beat Madison Central and more. (Video by Courtney Cronin/The Clarion-Ledger).

For Henderson, being a Dandy Dozen seemed farfetched two years ago. But he found a way to stand out. Maybe a similar story will follow suit in his recruitment.

"Recruiting is a mindset," Henderson said. "But I don't let that (recruiting) get to me."

"People can do anything in shirts and shorts but when they get in pads, it's a whole other level."